WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Statement from SEIU President Mary Kay Henry on President Barack Obama's nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve as the 112th justice of the Supreme Court of the United States:

Working people are facing hardships we haven't seen in generations. Because of these challenges, people need a Supreme Court - now, more than ever - that will stand up for their interests. Not corporate interests but the people's interests.

"As the daughter of a public school teacher and a lawyer who defended the rights of tenants, Elena Kagan understands first-hand the direct impact courts have on people's lives. Her commitment to fairness and to justice for everyday people has earned her respect across the ideological spectrum.

"The people deserve justices like Kagan - justices whose allegiance to equal justice and the rule of law trumps politics and corporate influence. And, nothing could be more important than restoring the Court's commitment to these principles.

"The Senate now has an opportunity to have a thoughtful discussion about the rule of law and the role of the Court in people's lives. We are confident her experience as one of the nation's leading legal minds and her record as a trailblazer make Elena Kagan worthy of swift confirmation."

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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